The founder of Hong Kong's now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has told a court in Hong Kong that he wanted to give people more information so that they will be able to enjoy freedom.

Jimmy Lai has been a longstanding supporter of Hong Kong's democracy movement. He has been charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. His trial began last December.

Lai, who denies all charges, testified for the first time on Wednesday.

Lai told the court the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Beijing prompted him to start publishing the newspaper.

He explained that he supported values such as the rule of law, pursuit of democracy, and freedom of speech and assembly, and wanted the people of Hong Kong to have access to more information so they will be able to enjoy such freedom.

Referring to the massive protests in Hong Kong in 2019, Lai testified that he has always been against any form of violence, and his newspaper took that stance too.

Lai has been detained since he was arrested and charged in 2020. Apple Daily was shut down the following year.

Western governments have been demanding his immediate release.